REPORT

Tuesday, April 12, 2016

The JAMA Report Video and Multimedia Assets are available at http://broadcast.jamanetwork.com

Please call: JAMA Media Relations with any questions: (312) 464-5262

“Better Air Quality Decreases Respiratory Symptoms in Children”

TEASE RUNS: 03 (Skyline of Los Angeles, girl with inhaler)

Air quality levels and children’s health…that’s next.

JAMA 4024

TRT: 1:41

EMBARGO: 11:00 AM (ET) Tuesday, April 12, 2016

INTRO: Air pollution is associated with chronic health problems in children, like bronchitis and asthma. In southern California, air pollution levels have been decreasing over the past 20 years. A new study examined whether those reductions have helped to improve respiratory symptoms in the state’s children. Catherine Dolf has more in this week’s JAMA Report.

B-ROLL
Plane flying, trains on track, cars on freeway, skyline of Los Angeles / PLANES, TRAINS, AND AUTOMOBILES ARE EVER PRESENT IN SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA. THEY ALL CONTRIBUTE TO WHAT’S CALLED AMBIENT AIR POLLUTION.
SOT/FULL
Kiros Berhane, Ph.D., - University of Southern California
Super@:10
Runs:14 / “Ambient air pollution is particulate matter, which are microscopic particles, some of them especially the fine ones, actually deposit deep into the lung and are known to cause a lot of respiratory problems in children and humans in general.”
B-ROLL
Dr. Berhane walking in office, various shots of children playing in park, cars on freeway, young girl with inhaler, nurse examining younger girl / DR. KIROS BERHANE (Bur-rah-nee) FROM THE UNIVERSITY OF SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA AND CO-AUTHORS FOLLOWED JUST OVER 46-HUNDRED CHILDREN IN 8 SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA COMMUNITIES ACROSS 3 DIFFERENT TIME PERIODS FROM 19-93 T0 2012. IN ADDITION TO MONITORING AIR QUALITY, THE RESEARCHERS LOOKED AT CHILDREN WITH AND WITHOUT ASTHMA AND WHETHER THEY REPORTED RESPIRATORY SYMPTOMS LIKE BRONCHITIS, CONGESTION, PHLEGM PRODUCTION, OR A DAILY COUGH FOR 3 MONTHS IN A ROW DURING THE PREVIOUS YEAR.
SOT/FULL
Kiros Berhane, Ph.D., - University of Southern California
Super@:47
Runs:13 / “In the children with asthma, we found at the beginning of the study, in the first cohort, almost 48 percent of them had bronchitic symptoms in the last year. Now in the children without asthma, this number was only about 11 percent.”
B-ROLL
Various shots of Dr. Berhane and colleague talking on roof of building over looking at skyline / AIR POLLUTION LEVELS DROPPED SIGNIFICANTLY DURING THE OBSERVATION PERIOD. BRONCHITIC SYMPTOMS WERE COMPARED IN THREE GROUPS OF CHILDREN FROM 19-93 TO 2012.
SOT/FULL
Kiros Berhane, Ph.D., - University of Southern California
Super@1:08
Runs:11 / “The prevalence of bronchitic symptoms went down by about 32 percent in those children with asthma. We also found that it went down by about 21 percent in those children without asthma.”
GFX FULL
JAMA LOGO / THE STUDY APPEARS IN JAMA, JOURNAL OF THE AMERICAN MEDICAL ASSOCIATION.
SOT/FULL
Kiros Berhane, Ph.D., - University of Southern California
Super@1:23
Runs:16
(Video covering 2nd part of bite: wide shot of city) / “These reductions were significant and important in both children with asthma and children without asthma. So all children benefitted from this reductions in air pollution. Protecting our environment really leads to better respiratory health in children.”
B-ROLL
Wide shot of playground / CATHERINE DOLF, THE JAMA REPORT.

TAG: DR. BERHANE SAYS THE FINDINGS FROM SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA CAN HELP GUIDE AIR QUALITY EFFORTS IN OTHER LOCATIONS IN THE U-S AND AROUND THE WORLD.

Please see the complete study for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc.

TO CONTACT: Dr. Berhane call: Zen Vuong at (213) 740-5277

ADDITIONAL SOUNDBITES:

Kiros Berhane, Ph.D., - University of Southern California

QUOTE 1 Runs:18

“Air pollution causes respiratory health problems in children as manifested by more asthma diagnosis in children playing or spending time outdoors in polluted environments or more respiratory symptoms or impaired lung development.”

QUOTE 2 Runs:10

“The facts that you know clean air leads to better health in children should be taken seriously because it really has implications for how we live and how productive we become.”

QUOTE 3 Runs:15

“As a result of a number of policy regulations and especially, you know something that California is known for, they have really translated to tangible and significant benefits which are clinically important in children in Southern California.”

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